This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Small Problem

You call that a small problem?  Since blooms are the whole point of raising
roses, I would consider it a major problem!

> location without a problem for years.  In the last two days something has

> systematically eaten every bud from each plant-neatly, cleanly , and 
> leaving no track.  No remains are left behind and none of the extensive 
> surrounding gardens are touched.

I would guess that it's deer.  Rose-bud-fed deer sounds like a real
delicacy; one that the ancient Romans might have enjoyed.

There's any number of home-made and commercial sprays that you could use. 
The problem is so serious here that I finally broke down and purchased a
"Critter Gitter", a little blace box that reacts to body heat and motion
and then emits a horrible shrieking noise accompanied by a laser light
show.  While it was costly ($79.98), at least I'll get to see that
particular bed in bloom this year.

Last year all of the buds on my 'Stanwell Perpetual' dissapeared overnight.
 All of them.  Then I caught a chipmunk scrambling over the thorny branches
looking for more buds.  A Havahart trap took care of him, but it did
surprise me to see a chipmunk crawling all over a thorny rose bush,
especially when there's a ton of sunflower seeds available in the nearby
bird feeders.  Rose buds must be quite tasty.
 
> We have always had extensive wild life-deer, raccoon, opossum, squirrel, 
> rabbit, woodchuck, bear, and an occasional badger but nothing has ever 
> touched our hybrid teas until now-actually I am not sure if it even an 
> animal.  Any help would be appreciated. 

Now that something's discovered the buffett, it's going to be a continual
problem.  You'd better take action and nip it in the "bud". (sorry,
couldn't resist).

keith, WNY, zone 5
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index